Web accessibility course

Everything you need to know about the New Standard WCAG, AODA, ADA, Section 508 course (Leaving No One Behind Online)

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Transcript | David Berman on The New Standard on Web Accessibility WCAG 2.0 eventsHide transcript | David Berman on The New Standard on Web Accessibility WCAG 2.0 events

(The speaker, David Berman is a Web Accessibility expert. He is sitting in an armchair by the fireplace. Throughout the entire video, he addresses the camera directly.)

I’m David Berman and I’m often asked why Web accessibility matters so much, and why people should care: why people should bother making sure their web presences are accessible.

The simple answer is legislation tells us we have to. I have the background of knowing how to make websites accessible and i’ve put together this one-day course which takes you through why it matters, what the major issues are,and how to make your web presence accessible. It’s really important for us that when people come out of this course that they have usable knowledge.

And so we focus on WCAG 2.0 Level AA. Why? Because that’s the standard that the United States has in Section 508. That’s the standard that the Canadian government has chosen, and the new Web standards and provinces and states like Ontario’s AODA call for that level AA compliance. If you learn this, you’ll learn the standard that everyone in the world is heading towards.

The most important point I want to share is that accessibility matters to everyone.

When we know how to make a site accessible for the extremes, and we do it well, we do it in a way that the site becomes more usable for everyone.

A more usable site is going to make it more likely that your audience is going to connect with your message. If you can get your audience to support themselves by going to the site, you can drive down your support costs, as well as having more satisfied customers.

Why wouldn’t you want that? [chuckles] I find this course is fascinating and educational for both people in management, as well as IT professionals.

I find when people come out of this course they’re excited, they’re motivated, they’re entertained.

Most importantly, they’re educated … and the information sticks. Over the past ten years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with hundreds of organizations on four continents: professionals who see the value to their business, to their communities,to their bottom line, in making their web sites more accessible.

If you’re a manager, if you’re an IT professional, if you’re a programmer, if you’re a designer, join us: for web accessibility matters.

“One of the most inspiring speakers I have ever met. I enjoyed learning from him the entire morning and wish it would have been a full day”

– Cherrie Werestiuk-Evans, Government of Manitoba

“I really liked Mr. Berman’s approach. It was engaging and interesting, but also kept things moving. I was also *so impressed* by all of the time he took to customize the presentation to our current web site and resources! Not only did it feel like he could speak to our experience directly, but having examples based on things we use everyday was really helpful to the way I learn, and I suspect many of my colleagues felt the same.”

– Pamela Faust, Kenyon College

“David used real-life examples, got people up and interacting. It was an amazing experience”

– Andrew Davies, Shaw Media

“Very knowledgeable and charismatic. Made the talk about a somewhat dry subject very interesting, and he never faltered on a question.”

– Bjorn Ramroop, Loblaw Digital

“He’s so enthusiastic it’s contagious.”

– Collette Boisvert, Conference Board of Canada

“Best webinar/training session I have participated in. David was fantastic, easy-going, passionate, friendly, and an expert.”

– Mary Foley, US Department of Agriculture

Course Description

It used to be that the only way to comply with accessibility standards for persons with disabilities or difficulties was to publish content in HTML. One of the most exciting parts of the new Standard On Web Accessibility and WCAG is that it has become feasible for you to choose PDF as the only container for certain content on your Web site … but only if you know how. We’ve worked with industry leaders such as Adobe to put together this comprehensive and powerful course, where attendees walk away with immediately-applicable tips and techniques to make all their pages and sites more accessible.

De-mystify how to make online or offline Web and PDF accessible whether your source is Word, Excel, PowerPoint, InDesign… or existing PDF. Now covering WCAG 2.0 and 2.1!

Most adults suffer from some level of disability or difficulty that can be mitigated through accessible technologies. And when we design for the extremes, everyone benefits.

Not only will you comply with the standards (AODA, WCAG, Standard On Web Accessibility, Section 508, PDF/UA…): you’ll be broadening the audience for your content while enriching the experience of existing users, reduce your publishing costs, and also improve your search results.

Meet the new accessibility laws faster, and with no programming knowledge required. Broaden audiences, improve Google reach, while making sites accessible to all. Spend a day with David Berman or his colleagues, rated #1 on this topic in North America, and learn how to comply with new laws and WCAG guidelines on access for disabilities.

Whether you are new to accessibility and WCAG, or already familiar with WCAG, you’ll learn immediately-applicable tips and techniques in this powerful accessibility course.
This course incorporates adult learning principles and activities appropriate to a variety of learning styles, and qualifies for CEUs (certified by organizations such as PPAC).

Our course and manual contain everything you need to know in order to pass the CPACC certification examination.

“Inspiring, engaging … techniques I can use.”

– Liv Stenersen, Government Administration Services, Oslo (Norway)

“Easy to understand … passion for his topic…a great presenter…explained our issues in understandable ways.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed David’s presentation and am thinking of so many uses for what I have learned… this was one of the most interesting and useful hours I’ve spent in 2016.”

– Carol Tobiassen, United Health Group

– Calline Au, Queensway Carleton Hospital, Ottawa

“The whole thing was incredible … amazing! We are better off knowing now what we didn’t know we didn’t know!”

– Tracy Noonan, Smiling Cat Design, Perth

“Helped me actually understand what we as an organization must do to mitigate.”

– Taylor Linseman, CHEO, Ottawa

“Great mix of humor and knowledge”

– Joy Moskovic, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Ottawa

We will equip you with arguments why accessibility is important for everybody, then provide in-depth familiarity with federal and international guidelines that will help your Web and PDF content be a more effective resource for your entire audience. You’ll also get familiar with assistive technologies that help people with specific disabilities and difficulties.

Canada’s federal government led the world when it first introduced its accessibility-centric CLF policy, now replaced with its Standard On Web Accessibility and Standard on Web Usability. Our full-day course includes a thorough review of every pertinent standard that apply to accessible Web and PDF, including other policies which call for WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA compliance (such as U.S. Section 508, ADA, and Ontario’s AODA). These new standards allow PDF to be your primary format, but only if your PDF is truly accessible. We’ll cover everything from tables to charts to fillable forms to free testing tools you can start using immediately.

Finally, you’ll venture into where accessibility meets usability. Not only will you leave with ideas you can use right away, you may also gain a whole new attitude towards how technology can improve lives. By the end of the day you will not only be aware of why accessibility and standards affect everyone: you’ll be equipped with a thorough understanding of the best strategies to approach what needs to be done and how, in order to drive down costs, increase reach, and improve SEO.

Impressions on David Berman e-Accessibility course at OCAD, 29 June 2015

What’s Wrong

Computer-mediated accessibility to information represents the greatest liberation in human history. Most people in our societies live with some amount of physical or mental difficulty, and that can stand in the way of clear communication if proper design steps are not taken.

Although most professional development teams now create their products with the latest responsive and platform issues in mind, they still experience difficulty meeting or exceeding meeting accessibility standards. And when they do, they often spend more time and effort than they need to reaching and maintaining their products to those standards. By not understanding why each standard or technique exists, they risk doing unnecessary work, making the site less attractive or useful to the mainstream audience … and with perhaps mediocre results for people living with disabilities.

“Very good speaker – good sense of humour.”

– Johan Fong, House of Commons

“Entertaining.”

– Sjur Kristiansen, Telenor Telecommunications Group

“Eye-opening. Love your method of teaching.”

– Jean Descrochers, National Research Council

“I enjoyed it all.”

– Robert Hallat, Public Service Commission

“Right on target.”

– Marius Monsen, Reaktor ID

“He knows what to do! This will guide us for the AA Standards”

– Bassil Wehbe, Agriculture Canada

What Makes This Course Unique

Our course developer, David Berman, is a consultant on strategy for large Web sites, and has worked on Web accessibility projects for many organizations including Statistics Canada, the National Research Council, BMO, and IBM. He has been the project manager of numerous accessible Web projects, has developed strategy and design for CFIA, CRA, CMHC, Health Canada, Canadian Heritage, Industry Canada, Veterans Affairs, and the International Space Station … as well as many private sector and non-profit organizations.

By addressing and understanding accessibility issues, Web developers can more effectively deliver their message to their whole audience, while complying with the legal and moral responsibilities, regardless of physical or mental impediment.

What You Will Learn

You will learn how to make your current sites more accessible by complying with current standards and guidelines. Specifically, you will learn:

First Half (morning of a full-day course)

why accessibility matters to everyone, not just those with disabilities

the major disabilities and challenges: what they are and how most of us have some level of difficulty that can be assisted by accessible design

(*If you are attending one of our courses hosted by another organization, confirm which of these items apply.) Register or call 1-613-728-6777… or bring this event to your site: for a keynote, half-day, or full-day event, customized for your group.

Prerequisites: None (no programming experience required)

“Clear and entertaining: will allow more strategic planning rather than just reactionary stumbling.”

– Steve Doody, Justice Canada

“This will make us better communicators.”

– Luc Bergeron, SSHRC

“Perfect.”

– Jean Leclair, Environment Canada

“Loved the examples. David is very engaging and knowledgeable facilitator. His passion is obvious. Will help me better evangelize.”

– Patrick Dunphy, CBC

“Excellent: very engaging speaker.”

– Jean-Marc Mondoux, Elections Canada

About our Expert Speakers

David Berman, the developer and trainer for all our course material and course leaders, is the principal of David Berman Communications.

David Berman has over 30 years of experience in design and communications and has worked extensively in e-accessibility and inclusive interface design. As an author (Do Good Design), expert speaker, designer, communications strategist, his professional work has brought him to over 50 countries.

In 2017, David was named to the AODA Standards Committee by the Government of Ontario, to help improve Ontario’s world-beating accessibility legislation.

David is an Invited Expert to the W3C, the publishers of the WCAG standard for e-accessibility. In 2015, he was made an International Advisor by the G3ICT, fitting with his work helping advise governments on four continents on establishing inclusive design policy. In 2015, he was named International Universal Design Champion for the Government of Ireland. In 2012, David was appointed chair of the Carleton Access Network at Carleton University. In 2009, David was appointed a high-level advisor to the United Nations on how accessible Web design thinking can help fulfill the Millennium Development Goals.

His clients include BMO, IBM, Honda, the International Space Station, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the World Bank, Sierra Club and the Aga Khan Foundation. David’s work includes award-winning projects in the application of plain language, typeface design, and the development of a system to republish the laws of Canada in plain writing and design.

In 2013, The World Wide Web Foundation had David personally audit the accessibility of benchmark Web sites from over 40 countries for their global report on the state of the Web.

He is a member of the ISO standards committee on accessible PDF documents.

His book (Do Good Design, Pearson/Peachpit, 2009) about how design can be used to create a more just world speaks about universal design and accessibility, and is now available in 6 languages, as well as braille.

He regularly teaches accessibility principles as part of his professional development workshops, and developed custom workshops for the National Research Council and Ontario’s largest school board.

David’s opinions have been featured in the Financial Post, the Globe And Mail, the Ottawa Citizen, the Montreal Gazette, Marketing, Applied Arts, HOW, and Communication Arts magazines, as well as ABC and CBS.

David ranks #1 on speakerwiki.org on this topic for a reason. His arc as an internationally-celebrated expert speaker has brought him to over 30 countries. He is a National Professional Member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) and the Global Speakers Federation (GSF).

David is currently Ethics Chair of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, was named a Fellow (the highest professional honour for graphic designers in Canada) in 1999, and has served as a director and sustainability chair of ico-D, the world body for graphic and communications design.

Guest Presenters

We include guest subject matter experts within a full-day course. For example, he has been joined by:

Jeff Braybrook (CEO, Blueprint), former Deputy Chief Technology Officer for the Government of Canada

Who Should Attend

This course is targeted to all writers, editors, designers, programmers, developers involved in developing Web sites, documents, or new media projects.

communications professionals

writers

editors

content owners

word processors

graphic designers

instructional designers

software developers, mobile app and game developers

quality controllers

people who need to get their Web site compliant with current and future government accessibility standards (e.g. W3C WCAG, ADA, Section 508, AODA)

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Changing Minds If we receive a written cancellation at least 14 business days before the course, we can refund regular class tickets in full, less a $29 enrollment charge. If we receive written cancellation at least 5 business days prior, we provide full credit toward a future similar course we host. Otherwise, we charge the full fee. Telephone registration counts as a committed registration. You can switch attendees at any time. We reserve the option to substitute presenters. Should we find we must postpone or cancel a course, our liability is limited to the course fee only: we will not be liable for travel, lodging or any other expenses. If you don't show up, you're entitled to attend the course the next time we give it by paying a $90 re-enrollment fee to cover our duplicated expenses.
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